BENIGN LESIONS OF UTERUS

UTERUSNUR HANISAH BINTI ZAINOREN

BENIGN LESIONS of

CONTENTS

UTERINE POLYPSFIBROMYOMASADENOMYOSIS

UTERINE POLYPS

Uterine polyps are benign polyps comprising endometrial, fibroid, adenomyomatous and

placental polyp

Endometrial polyp• Mostly arises from hyperplasia of endometrium

• Some of the endometrial lining protruding into the uterine cavity as polyps

• Composed of endometrial glands and stroma covered with a single layer of columnar epithelium

• Secondary malignant change may occur

- Single/multiple- Pink swellings- 1-2cm in diameter- With a pedicle

Placental polyp• Formed from retained placental tissue

• May cause:– Secondary postpartum hemorrhage – Intermittent vaginal bleeding following an

abortion or normal term delivery

Clinical features• Menorrhagia• Metrorrhagia• Postmenopausal bleeding• Postcoital bleeding (if it protrudes through the os)

Diagnosis• Clinically, uterine polyp may not be evident and uterus

may or may not be enlarged• It is easy to diagnose when the polypus protrudes

through the cervical canal

• Ulrasound can detect the uterine polyp• Saline sonosalphingogram/hysterosalphingogram

Management • D&C can scrape the polyp• Hysteroscopic removal of multiple polyps may

be desirable to ensure their complete removal.

FIBROMYOMAS

Other names

= Fibroids= Leiomyomas= Myomas

Commonest benign tumor of the uterus

Commonest benign tumor in female

fibromyoma

Tumor is composed of fibrous connective tissue and smooth muscle

• Incidence:– At least 20% of women at the age of 30 have got

fibroid in their wombs–50% remains asymptomatic– Incidence higher in black women– More common in nulliparous/one child infertility

Prevalence: highest between 35-45 years

(childbearing age group)

Rarely before 20 years

Risk factors for fibroidIncrease

–Nulliparity–Obesity–Hyperestrogenic

state–Black women

Decrease –Multiparity– Smoking • (due to associated

hypoestrinism)

Predominantly an estrogen-dependant tumor

• Evidenced by:– Potentially limited during child-bearing period– Increased growth during pregnancy– Rarely occur before menarche– Cessation of growth and there is no new growth at all following menopause– Contain more estrogen receptors than the adjacent myometrium– Frequent association of anovulation

GROWTH

Not squarely distributed amongst the fibroids which are usually multiple

Some grow faster than the others

On the whole, rate of growth is

SLOWTakes about 3-5 years for the fibroid to grow sufficiently

to be felt per abdomen

grows RAPIDLY During pregnancy Amongst pill users (high dose pills) Due to malignant change *the newer low dose

OCP are not associated with increase in the growth of a fibroid

Types

Body (Corporeal

)

Intramural (75%)

Subserosal (15%)

Submucosal (5%)Cervical

Fibroids are usually located in the body and are usually multiple

Initially, fibroids are intramural in position

but subsequently, some are pushed

outward or inward

about 70%persist in that position

INTERSTITIAL/INTRAMURAL

Intramural fibroid is pushed outwards

towards the peritoneal cavity

SUBSEROSAL/SUBPERITONEAL

When it completely covered by peritoneum,

it usually attains a pedicle – “pedunculated

subserosal fibroid”


On rare occasion, the pedicle may be torn; the

fibroid gets its nourishment from the omental or mesenteric

adhesions – “wandering/parasitic

fibroid”


Intramural fibroid, when pushed toward the

uterine cavity and is lying under the endometrium

SUBMUCOSAL

Can make the uterine cavity IRREGULAR &

DISTORTED

Least commonbut

MAXIMUM symptoms

SUBMUCOSAL

Pedunculated submucosal fibroid may

come out through the cervix

SUBMUCOSAL

May be infected/ulcerated to

cause METRORRHAGIA

Rare (1-2%)CERVICAL

May be anterior, posterior, lateral or central

May displace the cervix or expand it so much that the

external os is difficult to recognize

SECONDARY CHANGES IN FIBROIDS• Degenerations

• Atrophy

• Necrosis

• Infection

• Vascular changes

• Sarcomatous changesDANIVaS

• Degenerations:– Hyaline degeneration– Cystic degeneration– Fatty degeneration– Calcific degeneration– Red degeneration

• Atrophy: due to loss of support from estrogen– following menopause – Following pregnancy enlargement

• Necrosis: due to circulatory inadequacy (central necrosis of the tumor )– Pedunculated subserous fibroid

• Infection: access through the thinned and sloughed surface epithelium of the submucous fibroid. – Following delivery or abortion– Intramural fibroid may also be infected following

delivery.

• Vascular changes: Telangiectasis (dilatation of the vessels) or lymphangiectasis (dilatation of the lymphatic channels)

inside the myoma may occur. Cause is not known.

• Sarcomatous changes: may occur in <0.1% cases. The usual type is leiomyosarcoma.

Other Complications • Hemorrhage

– Intracapsular– Ruptured surface vein of

subserous fibroid intraperitoneal• Polycythemia

– Erythropoietic function by the tumor

– Altered erythropoietic function of the kidney through ureteric pressure

• Torsion of subserous pedunculated fibroid

• Inversion of uterus• Endometrial carcinoma

associated with fibromyoma• Endometrial and

myohyperplasia• Accompanying adenomyosis• Parasitic fibroid

Symptoms Menstrual disturbances

Infertility, recurrent abortions

Pain

Pressure symptoms

Abdominal lump

Vaginal discharge

Symptoms Menstrual disturbances


Pain

Pressure symptoms

Abdominal lump

Vaginal discharge

• Menorrhagia • Conspicuous in IM & SM fibroid• due to increased vascularity, endometrial

hyperplasia & enlarged uterine cavity

• Metrorrhagia/irregular bleeding• Ulceration of SM fibroid or fibroid polyp• Torn vessels from the sloughing base of polyp• Associated endometrial carcinoma

Symptoms Infertility, recurrent abortions


Pain

Pressure symptoms

Abdominal lump

Vaginal discharge

• Infertility:• Distortion / elongation of uterine cavity

difficult sperm ascent• Poor rhythmic uterine contraction during

intercourse impaired sperm transport• Menorrhagia and dyspareunia

• Recurrents abortions:• Defective implantation• Poorly developed endometrium• Reduced space for the fetal growth

Symptoms Pain


Pain

Pressure symptoms

Abdominal lump

Vaginal discharge

• Usually painless

• Pain may be due to some complications of the tumor / associated pelvic pathology

• Due to tumor:• Degeneration• Torsion• Extrusion of polyp

• Associated pathology:• Endometriosis• PID

Symptoms Pressure symptoms


Pain

Pressure symptoms

Abdominal lump

Vaginal discharge

• Bladder frequency and retention of urine

• Ureter hydroureter & hydronephrosis (in broad ligament

fibroids)

• Rectum constipation (rare)

Symptoms Abdominal lump


Pain

Pressure symptoms

Abdominal lump

Vaginal discharge

• Heaviness in the lower abdomen

• A pedunculated fibroid feels separate from the uterus and gives impression of ovarian tumor

Symptoms Vaginal discharge


Pain

Pressure symptoms

Abdominal lump

Vaginal discharge

• Rare • Often blood-stained

Physical signs• Anemia• Abdominal lump– Arising from pelvis– Well-defined margins– Firm in consistency– Smooth/bossy surface– Mobile from side to side unless fixed by large size or

adhesions

• Bimanual examination:– Enlarged uterus– Cervix moves with the swelling

which is not felt separate from uterus unless it is pedunculated

– In cervical fibroid, the normal uterus is perched on top of the tumor

– Broad ligament fibroid displaces the uterus to the opposite side

Differential diagnosis ?

Pregnancy Full bladderHaematometra/

pyometra

AdenomyosisBicornuate

uterusEctopic

pregnancy

Chronic PIDBenign/malignant

ovarian tumor

Investigations• Haemoglobin, blood grouping• Ultrasound abdomen & pelvis• Hysterosalphingography (to identify submucous myoma)• Hysteroscopy• D&C (to rule out endometrial cancer)• Laparoscopy• MRI (to identify adenomyosis and myoma)

In majority cases, the clinical features are clear cut. Elaborate investigations are not required.

MANAGEMENT PROTOCOL OF UTERINE FIBROIDS

BODY

SYMPTOMATIC

MEDICAL SURGERY

MYOMECTOMY, HYSTERECTOMY,

MYOLYSIS, EMBOLOTHERAP

Y

ASYMPTOMATIC

REGULAR SUPERVISION (6 MONTHS

INTERVAL)

IF SIZE INCREASE & SYMPTOMS APPEAR SURGERY

SURGERY

IF SIZE >12 WEEKS, DX

UNCERTAIN, UNEXPLAINED ABORTION/INF

ERTILITY, PEDUNCULATED

CERVIX

SUPRAVAGINAL

MYOMECTOMY HYSTERECTOMY

VAGINAL

MYOMECTOMY POLYPECTOMY

MEDICAL MANAGEMENT

To improve menorrhagia and to correct anemia before surgery

To minimize the size and vascularity of the tumor in order to facilitate surgery

As an alternative to surgery in postmenopausal women or women with high-risk for surgery

Where postponement of surgery is planned temporarily

• Antiprogesterones– Mifepristone (daily dose of 25-30mg for 3mo)

• Danazol– 200-400mg divided dose for 3mo

• GnRH analogs– Agonists (luporelin, goserelin, buserelin, nafarelin)– Antagonists (cetrorelix, ganirelix)

• PG synthetase inhibitor - to relieve pain

To minimize blood loss

Levonogestrel-releasing intrauterine system

(LNG-IUS)

Reduce the size and vascularity of the fibroid

Fibroids complicating pregnancy

Pregnancy generally cause an increase in the size of the fibroids – Increase vascularity– High tendency to undergo

degenerative changes

Red degeneration

result of the softening of

the surrounding supportive

tissue

capillaries tend to rupture

blood effuses out into the

myoma (diffuse reddish

discolouration)

severe acute abdominal

pain (restricted to

the site of fibroid uterus)

ADENOMYOSIS

Common condition in which islands of endometrium are found in the wall of the

uterus

“UTERINE ENDOMETRIOSIS”

• Observed frequently in elderly women• Women are usually parous• Around the age of 40 years• The disease often coexists with uterine

fibromyomas, pelvic endometriosis (15%) and endometrial carcinoma

Gross examination• Uterus appears symmetrically enlarged to not more than

14-weeks size

• Cut section may show only a localized nodular enlargement

• Affected area reveals a peculiar, diffuse, striated and non-capsulated involvement of the myometrium, with tiny dark hemorrhagic areas interspersed between

Histological examination• Islands of endometrial

glands surrounded by stroma, in the midst of endometrial tissue beyond the myometrial junction

Symptoms • Menorrhagia • Progressively increasing dysmenorrhea• Pelvic discomfort• Backache• Dyspareunia

Clinical examinations• Symmetrical enlargement of the uterus (if

adenomyosis is diffused)• Tender uterus• Uterine enlargement – rarely exceeds that of 3

months’ pregnancy

Differential diagnosis• A localised adenomyosis asymmetrical enlargement

of uterus – resembles myoma

• A myoma of this size is rarely painful

• Therefore, menorrhagia, with painful, assymmetrical enlargement of the uterus suggests adenomyosis

Investigations • Pelvic ultrasound• MRI

Medical Treatment • Non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs

(NSAIDs) • Hormonal therapy• Danazol• GnRH • Mirena IUCD

For menorrhagia and pain

Treatment • Diagnostic hysteroscopy + D&C

– Initial step in the management of adenomyosis because of menorrhagia

• Total hysterectomy (elderly women who passed the age of childbearing)

• Localized excision– Younger women with localized adenomyosis– Anxious to have a child

• Transcervical resection of endometrium (TCRE) – Effective for about 2 years

That’s all!

Thank You

Education

BENIGN LESIONS OF UTERUS